The Oilers last several contests have perfectly primed the club for the upcoming post season.
A battle against the Pacific Division leading Golden Knights, a pair of wins over their likely first round opponent in the Kings, and taking care of business against the Ducks have all been contributing factors to the Oilers five-game winning streak.
In the last four games, the Oilers have outscored their opponents by an 18-5 margin and set the third-longest shutout streak in franchise history at 171:58. The commitment to defence for a team with an NHL-high 309 goals has made the Oilers a squad that can win any type of game their opponent wants to play.
"It's fun. We like playing that game, they like playing that game; It makes for competitive hockey," McDavid said about Tuesday's defensive, slug it out style contest. "Off the ice, it may not translate onto the TV, but on the ice it's highly competitive and it's emotional. It's intense and those are the games that we obviously love to play."
"I think however the other team plays, their type of style, I think we have the guys in here that are smart enough and have had enough experience to play that way," Skinner said. "Sometimes, depending on the type of game that is played and depending on the time of the period and all that, all situations are different. It just shows that our guys are ready for any type of style, and I thought we've been playing really well, just consistently, every single game, especially the past little bit here."
The goal under Coach Woodcroft for the Oilers has always been to be playing their best hockey heading into the postseason, and that's exactly what the Blue & Orange are doing. A win or an overtime appearance against the Ducks would tie the fifth-longest point streak in franchise history at 12 games. Since Jan. 11, the Oilers have the NHL's best record at 25-5-6 and have a .778 point percentage over that streak.
Edmonton has been able to find success in all phases of the game. So much discussion has been around the Oilers NHL record power play, but they are fifth in the league in even strength goals at 206, and their 16 shorthanded goals also lead the entire National Hockey League.
Even in a game like yesterday where their opponent has held them to two shots in the first period and shutdown 11 straight power-play opportunities, the Oilers were able to stick to the game plan, break down the Kings, and come away with the two points.
"I think it's definitely a good sign. I think in the past we might get frustrated and start forcing stuff and that's exactly what they want, but we trust our ability to defend and if this is the way that we're going to have to play, that's the way we're going to have to play," Nugent-Hopkins said. "We know that we can score when we need to, so I think just being able to stick with it and not get frustrated and not give them anything easy is definitely a good sign for our character."
"Obviously, we always talk about consistency. I hate to keep talking about that. I'm sure everyone's sick of hearing me talk about it, but obviously it was a consistent effort," McDavid said. "Both games against this group were really similar games. I've never seen a game where shots were 3-2 after the first period. In low-event hockey, the little things matter and you got to play that way, and we like playing that way honestly."
-- Michael Arcuri, EdmontonOilers.com
